Rise & Shine: Detroit Latin could become a charter school

Detroit’s main school district will open one new high school this fall, not two.

Detroit Latin was imagined as a gleaming new high school in the city district with a focus on classical culture. But its private backers — who had promised to raise $75 million from philanthropies to support the school — announced on Monday that they will attempt to create a charter school instead.

Superintendent Nikolai Vitti explained in a statement early this morning that the philanthropic funding wasn't materializing.

“We continued to believe in the opportunity Detroit Latin offered but the partnership was built on a public-private relationship that appeared to be moving in the direction of greater reliance on public funds than private," he said.

Meanwhile, the new district high school on the campus of Marygrove College is still on track. Lori reported yesterday that hundreds of would-be students listed the school as their first choice. The total number of applications to the district's other application-only high schools increased, too, meaning the school at Marygrove won’t cut into enrollment in other buildings.

The weekend’s headlines are below. Thank you for being a reader!

— Koby Levin, reporter

Rise & Shine is Chalkbeat’s morning digest of education news. Subscribe to have it delivered to your inbox.

DETROIT LATIN After talks with the district broke down, the people behind a planned Detroit Latin High School say they will pursue a charter. Chalkbeat

MARYGROVE SCHOOL Thousands of students will learn this week whether they got into one of Detroit’s elite application-only high schools. Hundreds will join the first freshman class at the new “cradle-to-career” school at Marygrove College. Chalkbeat

TAX FIGHT Republican lawmakers were quick to criticize Gretchen Whitmer’s proposed budget, especially the 45-cent gas tax hike, which one top lawmaker called a “non-starter.” As she works to drum up public support for the plan, the governor challenged lawmakers to come up with a better proposal. Crain’sThe Detroit News

SUPERS REACT Top school superintendents from southeast Michigan, including Detroit’s Nikolai Vitti, wrote an editorial in favor of Whitmer’s proposal, calling it a “bold, research-based budget.” Detroit Free Press

ALL IN THE DETAILS An educator-turned-Democratic-state-Senator argues that her Republican colleagues are misrepresenting school finance data. At issue: How to calculate inflation. Bridge Magazine

DUAL ENROLLMENT U.S. Sen. Gary Peters, a Democrat, is proposing legislation that would expand dual-enrollment programs, making it easy for students to earn college credits while in high school. The VoiceSouthgate News-Herald

OVERTESTING? A libertarian-leaning think tank argues that Michigan should do away with its certification exam for teachers. Mackinac Center

HIGH FLIER The same think tank used its school report card to highlight a Detroit charter school that has proven especially successful in working with English learners. Mackinac Center

PROM SAVINGS A nonprofit is returning to Detroit to give away prom dresses. One survey found that families can spend as much as $1,000 to prepare their children for a single school dance. Metro Times

Extra Credit

Want to showcase your school or an upcoming education event? Send me photos and details.

PHOTO: Cornerstone

Students at Detroit’s Cornerstone Health and Technology High School participate in Market Day, where students “run a mini business for a day and earn real profit.”